2019-20 Academic Newsletter
“Nursing is an art; and, if it to be made an art, it requires an exclusive devotion, as hard a preparation, as any painter’s or sculptor’s work; for what is the having to do with dead canvas or cold marble, compared with having to do with the living body, the temple of God’s spirit? It is one of the Fine Arts; I had almost said, the finest of Fine Arts.” Florence Nightingale, 1868
CALENDAR OF EVENTS | 2020
FEB. 18-20
Nursing Career Fair
APRIL 3
Graduate Nursing Open House
FEB. 19
Shanna’s Café
APRIL 15
Shanna’s Café
FEB. 21
Graduate Nursing Open House
APRIL 18
Lynchburg Community Care Collaborative
FEB. 29
VNSA Conference
MAY 8
Psi Delta Induction Ceremony
MARCH 7
Dedication and Pinning Ceremony
MAY 9
Commencement and Nursing Degree Presentation Ceremonies
MARCH 16-20 Spring Break
and in the educational arena. Their leadership is impacting nursing practice, nursing education, and the healthcare industry.
A MESSAGE FROM THE
DEAN PREPARING CONFIDENT, COMPETENT, AND COMPASSIONATE NURSES
The Liberty University School of Nursing (LUSON) has provided excellent nursing education for over three decades to Central Virginia and around the world. Our purpose has not changed during these 30 years. Our mission has strengthened our resolve to positively impact the world in which we live. LUSON is poised to make a difference in the lives of patients, communities, nurses, leaders, organizations, and education. Using technology and skills, alongside compassion and caring, our students, faculty, and alumni are strengthening our presence, and His presence, locally, domestically, and internationally. Not only are they doing the art of nursing, but they are also leading others to create change, improving the health of one and the healthcare of a nation. The undergraduate BSN programs (pre- and post-licensure) are providing students with exceptional experiences in clinical settings, in government offices, and community engagement. We are celebrating the 2019 calendar year NCLEX-RN pass rate of 98.3%. And the RN-BSN program is graduating nurses that are prepared to practice at the bedside with the knowledge, theory, and skill to improve mortality and morbidity, according to the standards of the Institute of Medicine. The MSN programs are offering more concentrations than ever before, from education to administration, from community to public health policy and informatics. Alumni are leading organizations both in the acute care and community settings
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program offers support to patients and health systems through APRN and DNP degrees. The APRN programs of Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) are graduating exceptional practitioners who are dedicated to caring for patients as well as creating positive change in their practice realm. The FNP program boasts a four-year 100% pass rate, and the PMHNP program’s first graduates passed at a 100% rate as well. We are excited to see these great results! The post-MSN DNP degree for administrators and practicing APRNs is improving healthcare and patient outcomes through evidence-based practice changes. The recently launched PhD in Nursing: Nursing Education concentration is growing rapidly. And we look forward to seeing how the Lord uses these students to impact nursing education practices and systems. Frequently, I receive phone calls and emails from nurse managers and other leaders in health organizations as well as from patients and their families. These brief moments of interaction convince me that our students and alumni are truly practicing our art and science with confident, competent, and compassionate care. The following pages will give you a glimpse into how students, alumni, and faculty are caring for those most in need here and around the world. From fighting neonatal substance addiction to educating human trafficking victims, from providing excellent bedside care to creating new knowledge of leadership, and from visiting with state and federal politicians and policy makers to washing the feet of homeless neighbors in Lynchburg, we are making a difference in the lives of individuals and in the healthcare system that serves them. This issue is dedicated to all those who invest in and impact others every day. I hope you enjoy the following pages.
Dr. Shanna W. Akers Dean
OUR MISSION Training Champions for Christ who care with their hearts and their minds, exhibiting both our art and our science, to care for those most in need here and around the world impacting and investing in the lives of others.
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B S N P R O G R A M U P D AT E TRACEY TURNER The residential Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program has had a wonderful start to the 2019-20 academic year. The Fall 2019 semester started strong with 704 students and an additional 400 pre-nursing students taking prerequisite courses in hopes of entering the program. Eighty-four students finished their degree completion plan (DCP) in December
and are starting to make their lasting impact on the profession of nursing around the world. The 2018-19 graduates are already doing amazing things in their careers. These graduates have exemplified nursing knowledge with a 98.3% NCLEX-RN pass rate for the year.
R N T O B S N P R O G R A M U P D AT E DIANE BRIDGE Since 2005, the RN-BSN program has provided opportunities for registered nurses to integrate their faith into their education and nursing practice. This program is 100% online and can be completed in a couple years. Undergraduate online courses provide digital textbooks and resources, making the online learning environment engaging and interactive. The Global Studies cognate was added in the Spring 2019 term, allowing interested RN-BSN students to
complete 12 additional course credits to learn how to communicate effectively across cultures and build intercultural relationships. More registered nurses are taking advantage of the RNBSN-MSN accelerated track to speed up their education. Students currently have three concentrations to choose from in the RN-BSN-MSN dual degree: education, administration, and informatics.
M S N P R O G R A M U P D AT E DIANE BRIDGE Since 2001, the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program has provided educational opportunities with a biblical perspective for nurses desiring to advance their degrees. The MSN program is 100% online and currently offers concentrations in education, administration, informatics, community health, and health policy. This program also offers several
dual degrees: the MSN/MBA pairs the MSN in Nursing Administration with the Master of Business Administration, and the MSN/MSHA combines the MSN in Nursing Administration with the Master of Science in Healthcare Administration. Starting in Spring 2020, the MSN program introduced the 36-hour DCP for all MSN concentrations.
P H D P R O G R A M U P D AT E ELIZABETH WHORLEY In Fall 2019, the School of Nursing launched the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) program with a focus on nursing education. The PhD program is 100% online, requires a total of 60 credit hours, and allows
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for flexible scheduling. The program is taught from a biblical worldview and prepares scholars who desire to teach the next generation of nurses and steward the profession of nursing.
D N P P R O G R A M U P D AT E S H A R O N KO P I S This year, the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program has grown to over 200 enrolled students across all the DNP pathways and the postgraduate Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) certificate program. To support this student growth, additional faculty members were hired. Please welcome: • Dr. Shade Adigun, PhD, MSN, FNP-BC Dr. Adigun is a graduate of the MSN program at Liberty and has been welcomed back as a faculty member. • Dr. Kristene Diggins, DNP, MBA, FAANP, CNE, NEABC, DCC Dr. Diggins is a long-time faculty member of the Liberty University School of Nursing and has taught in the RN-BSN and MSN programs. • Professor Sherri Walker, PhD-c, MSN, PHMHNP-BC Professor Walker has just started teaching this semester in the PMHNP programs and is completing her PhD at Liberty this spring. These faculty members will support the online DNP programs, including the post-BSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) DNP program and PMHNP pathways.
We are also pleased to announce that Jacqueline Williams is the first graduate of the postgraduate PMHNP certificate program. She graduated in December 2019 and has already passed the PMHNP national certification as a first-time test taker. She is a recipient of the Virginia Health Care Foundation Scholarship Program for PMHNP education in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This program is designed to increase enrollment of qualified nurse practitioners in PMHNP programs to ultimately increase the number of mental health nurse practitioners in the state, a response to the shortage of mental health care providers within Virginia and around the country. She is planning to work with the underserved in Virginia to expand mental health care services. Lastly, the residential post-BSN DNP Family Nurse Practitioner program’s fourth cohort is currently taking their national certification examination as family nurse practitioners. Of the students who have tested, all have passed the FNP national certification examination as first-time test takers. These students will graduate late summer or early fall in 2020.
S I M U L AT I O N C E N T E R U P D AT E K AT H R Y N M I L L E R The LUSON Simulation Center has increased its learner contact hours offered to students in nursing programs at Liberty University. New scenarios surrounding topics of incivility and workplace violence introduce and reinforce that the American Nurses Association “seeks to protect nurses from all types of workplace conflict through various methods including advocacy, policy, and resources. We want nurses, employers, and the public to jointly create and nurture a healthy, safe, and respectful work environment in which positive health outcomes are the highest priority” (ANA, 2019, p.1).
The continued growth of the simulation program welcomed a second full-time undergraduate simulation center coordinator. Angie Holloman joined the LUSON team in November 2019. A registered nurse of 22 years and former adjunct clinical instructor for LUSON, Mrs. Holloman recently returned to Lynchburg after spending ten years in the Middle East where she and her family worked with Syrian refugees. Mrs. Holloman looks forward to using her love for the Lord, people, and technology to serve and assist both students and faculty within the Simulation Center.
Simulation debriefing promotes learner-centered discussion of respectful work environments and the alignment of ANA ideals with our LUSON character virtues and the ANA Code of Ethics (ANA, 2015). It also provides evidence-based strategies as tools to mitigate incivility and practice the power of a professional response.
American Nurses Association. (2019). Violence, Incivility, and Bullying. Retrieved from https://www.nursingworld.org/practicepolicy/work-environment/violence-incivility-bullying/ American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. Silver Springs Maryland: American Nurses Association.
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ETHICS
Improving the Health of Women in Our Region SHANNON MILES AND KIM PRICE
The maternal mortality rate in the United States is 26.4 deaths per 100,000 live births, the highest rate of pregnancyrelated complication deaths of any other developed country in the world. The current ranking and the trend for maternal mortality in the U.S. has continued to increase since 1987. Nursing professionals, who spend their careers working to ensure quality and safety for women, must work to improve patient care and outcomes of mothers and their children. The reasons are complex, and answers to address this problem seem elusive. New mothers have more complex medical histories, and chronic health issues may not be addressed before pregnancy. Many maternal deaths are due to hemorrhage, infection, and eclampsia. A recent study from maternal mortality review committees has identified that mortality rates are just as high during pregnancy as they are in the time frame of 43-365 days post-partum (Davis, et.al, 2019). Most recently, the Joint Commission has released new standards addressing the rising maternal mortality in the U.S. The Alliance for Innovation for Maternal Health (AIM) has created safety bundles to improve the quality and safety of maternity care with the goal of reducing maternal deaths and severe maternal morbidity, including the racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes. Disturbingly, African American rates of maternal mortality are three times higher than Caucasians’, which raises questions of racism, genetics, and implicit bias among healthcare professionals. This imbalance has caused the medical community to evaluate their implicit bias, defined as attitudes or stereotypes that affect understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner.
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In Virginia, Governor Northam has set a goal to eliminate racial disparity in Virginia’s maternal mortality rate by 2025. His first step was to have his administration hold maternal listening sessions across the state. The Virginia Neonatal Perinatal Collaborative (VNPC) is also discussing the issues with healthcare providers across the state. While each mother has a unique and compelling story surrounding childbirth, the most glaring issue is the lack of data to drive decision making. In Lynchburg, we are fortunate to have dedicated community partners who want to address this issue in our community and become a model of intervention that will change the direction of the trend and make childbirth safe for all. The first coalition meeting demonstrated the strengths in this community and the opportunities to band together. The next steps are to look at our weaknesses and threats to the vision of improving the health of women in the region.
Davis NL, Smoots AN, Goodman DA. Pregnancy-Related Deaths: Data from 14 U.S. Maternal Mortality Review Committees, 2008-2017. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2019. As alumni, Ms. Miles and Dr. Price have dedicated their nursing careers to improving the health of women in Lynchburg and the surrounding areas. Specializing in neonatal addictions and supporting women as they become mothers, both Miles and Price are making a difference using excellent and compassionate care, the art of nursing. Using the science of nursing — research — they are implementing best practices in the care of mother and child.
COMPASSION
Medical Missions: Spain, January 2020 A M A N DA B I N D E R God moves through us. When we love people, God’s love is shared. When we serve, God shows up. This January, our experiences in Spain and Morocco taught us how to meet people where they are personally and spiritually, how to share God’s love with a gentle word or action, and how to recognize and celebrate the people around us. We loved people and served them as we were able, and God’s faithfulness made itself known. Working with Diez42 and other ministries throughout Malaga, Spain — primarily with Moroccan refugees — was not only a blessing to them but also rewarding for us. God blessed us individually and corporately as we personified His love to hurting people. We learned important lessons about friendships, about adapting to meet people where they are, about being “other,” and about the importance of prayer for a community. The Moroccan refugees have left home, family, comfort, and what is known to face the challenges of traveling — many by foot — new places, new language, and new customs. Many of them are still without family and friends. Some have faced life-threatening encounters. Here we found them. Though God did not forget them, many feel as though they are lost
and alone. Bringing a small amount of comfort to the hurting world — this is what we are called to do. LUSON students were able to minister to spiritual and physical needs — being the hands and feet of Christ by sharing compassion with the world around them. “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased,” Hebrews 13:16 (NIV). Thank you to those who were doing the sending, and thank you to those who were sent!
COMPASSION
L U N S A U P D AT E DA N A WO O DY
Liberty University Nursing Student Association (LUNSA) was back in full swing in the fall. Our commitment as a student organization is to leadership, scholarship, and philanthropy — supporting a professional voice, growth in our knowledge, and acts of service. We firmly believe in His call, His journey, and one focus. Starting out with our Freshman Boot Camp in August, our LUNSA members devised a special event for incoming freshmen. This event showcased the School of Nursing and opportunities within our program. We hosted the LUSON Connection Fair in August with support from LUSON faculty and LU resources in an effort to get our students connected for the fall. Our membership campaign kicked off at the end of August and was the most successful to date, with 180
members signing up. October was all things pink as we hosted our second annual Pink-Out in celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. During the event, we had a special guest speaker — cancer survivor and retired nurse Mrs. Sherry Pugh. Butterfly hugs were made for cancer clients to be distributed as tokens of hope to cancer centers throughout the nation. In November, we hosted our first annual chili cook-off and resilience event. Faculty brought their favorite chili recipes for students to sample and vote on. Professor Ruth Patterson was awarded first place for her “Chili In a Hurry” recipe. This will surely be a LUNSA staple event in the future. In the month of December, we had a Senior Send-Off. The evening was full of fellowship, ornament making, hot chocolate, Christmas fun, and stuffing stockings for the local Salvation Army. LUNSA is the largest student nursing association in the nation. The association has been a part of LUSON for many years. The last three years we have revamped and recharged for Him. He is the foundation for our work — one focus. We look forward to where He will continue to lead us.
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COMPASSION
LU School of Nursing Receives Partner in Mission Award DA N A WO O DY
The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Their message is based on the Bible and motivated by the love of God. The mission of the Salvation Army is to “preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.” LUSON has partnered with the Salvation Army the last four years, supporting a number of community events and clinics.
Army. Their investments in the Hands and Feet Clinic and the Lynchburg Community Care Collaborative (LCCC) are most notable. The Hands and Feet Clinic has served as a clinical ministry for our students the last four years, providing hands and feet hygiene to Salvation Army residents and community members. LCCC is a partnership event with the School of Medicine held every spring.
This past October, the Salvation Army awarded LUSON the Partner in Mission Award, their highest community partner award. Dr. Dana Woody, associate professor for community health, received this award on behalf of LUSON. Her community of students, as well as members of the LUSON student nursing association, serve often at the Salvation
We are truly honored to have received this award and look forward to our continued partnership with the Salvation Army for many years to come. LUSON is committed to leaving a legacy — truly serving as His hands and feet. Our community partnerships are one of the many ways we do this.
EXCELLENCE/RESEARCH
Identifying Complex Barriers to Medication Adherence in Outpatient Oncology Care Model Patients D O N N A WA S H B U R N A N D K E N T H O M P S O N Adherence to a prescribed medication regimen is often critical to successful comorbid disease management and decreased risk of adverse outcomes, yet half or fewer patients often do not take their medications as prescribed. Older cancer patients with multiple comorbidities receiving chemotherapy treatment are at increased risk for adverse health outcomes from uncontrolled disease. The barriers that result in nonadherence are often multilayered and complex, making them difficult to efficiently address in a fast-paced outpatient clinic setting. The primary objective of this DNP Scholarly Project was to develop an evidence-based observational screening instrument from literature and evaluate its potential for identifying barriers to medication adherence. A list of barriers and accompanying warning signs derived from a comprehensive search of literature was categorized into five types of barriers. These were organized into a paper-based screening instrument. The W-BMA (Washburn-Barrier to Medication Adherence) Risk Assessment was created from the literature 8
review to screen for the most common, impactful barriers to medication adherence and aid in reducing the likelihood of uncontrolled illness. A retrospective, quasiexperimental, observational comparison study was used to evaluate retrospective data of oncology care model patients with multiple comorbidities. The results revealed that 184 out of 250 (73.6%) oncology care model patient records showed potential for barriers and also had uncontrolled comorbid illness and/or events. Patients either without barriers or whose medical barriers were fully addressed by a healthcare worker — such as an oncology navigator or social worker — had 34% lower incidence of uncontrolled illness.
EXCELLENCE
Faculty Recognition
Dr. Rachel Joseph’s abstract Beyond the Borders: A Fulbright Scholar Experience was selected for a podium presentation at the AACN’s Doctoral Education Conference this past January. Dr. Dana Woody was honored in October as she accepted the Partners in Mission award from the Salvation Army on behalf of LUSON.
Dr. Dottie Murphy co-authored a chapter in the Cardiac Nursing textbook titled “Heart Failure: Guideline-Directed Medical and Device Therapy.” The publisher is Wolters Kluwer and the publication date is scheduled for 2020. The chapter authors in order of contribution are Kelley M. Anderson, PhD, FNP, CHFN-K, Dorothy L. Murphy, DNP, FNP-BC, A.A.C.C., Reiko Asano, PhD, RN, & Karen Vuckovic, PhD, APRN, ACNS-BC, FAHA.
M E E T T H E N E W F A C U LT Y & S T A F F
Aimée Houghton
Tiffany Wells
Maranda Sanders
In fall 2019, Aimée Houghton joined the LUSON residential BSN faculty. Professor Houghton grew up in Louisiana and has lived in Texas for the past 15 years. She received her BS from Southwestern Assemblies of God University in 2000. She graduated from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center with a BSN (2013) as well as her MSN in Nursing Leadership (2018). Professor Houghton spent her bedside nursing career in critical care units before becoming the Director of Nursing for Critical Care Services. Eventually, she went on to lead multiple other departments, including Oncology, Medical-Surgical, Orthopedics, Vascular Access, and Dialysis. She has been married for 17 years and has 2 daughters. Professor Houghton will be teaching pathophysiology and serving as the clinical coordinator for the residential BSN program.
In the Spring 2020 semester, Tiffany Wells joined the LUSON residential BSN faculty. Professor Wells graduated with her BSN from Radford University in 2007 and obtained her MSN with a focus on Nursing Administration in 2017 from Liberty University. Her primary areas of expertise are medicalsurgical nursing, pediatrics, and nursing administration. For the last eight years, Professor Wells has worked in Nursing Education as a clinical educator and most recently as Clinical Simulation Faculty. Professor Wells is certified in Nursing Professional Development. She values lifelong learning and professional development. She was recently certified as a Healthcare Simulation Educator. Professor Wells has been married to her wonderful husband Justin for 10 years. They have a beautiful sevenyear-old daughter, Georgia, and a Boston terrier. Professor Wells will assist in medical-surgical clinicals, pediatric clinicals, and junior-level simulation. In Fall 2019, Maranda Sanders joined the LUSON team as Senior Administrative Assistant to the Dean. Originally from Mansfield, Ohio, Ms. Sanders has lived in seven other states prior to making Lynchburg, Va., home. Ms. Sanders has a Bachelor of Science in Government and History with a cognate in Health Studies. She is a licensed Phlebotomist and EKG Technician, and she worked with the American Red Cross before coming to work for Liberty in 2012. Ms. Sanders has been with Liberty for seven years and worked as an embedded representative for the School of Nursing from 2013-2015. In this role, she assisted nursing students with their educational finances. Before joining the School of Nursing full time, she was working on the Quality Assurance Team for Student Financial Services. In her free time, Ms. Sanders enjoys reading, the outdoors, and taking ballet classes.
Angie Holloman joined the LUSON team in November 2019. A registered nurse of 22 years and former adjunct clinical instructor for LUSON, Mrs. Holloman recently returned to Lynchburg after spending ten years in the Middle East where she and her family worked with Syrian refugees. Mrs. Holloman looks forward to using her love for the Lord, her love for people, and her love of technology to serve and assist both students and faculty within the Simulation Center.
Angie Holloman 9
FUTURE
LUSON Nursing Students: Prepared for Anything TA M R A R A S B E R R Y
LUSON graduates have a reputation for entering the clinical setting well equipped to provide thorough holistic care. Our faculty are dedicated to providing quality lecture content and hands-on clinical experiences in a variety of settings. We also use cutting-edge technology to simulate real-life medical situations to prepare our students to be ready for anything. Unfortunately, another facet of patient care has become a vital component of training for nurses: dealing with workplace violence. According to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2019), between 8% and 38% of healthcare workers will experience some form of workplace violence during their careers. The Occupational Safety Healthcare Administration (2016) suggests that one key element in preventing workplace violence is education that includes verbal deescalation and self-defense techniques, specifically with a hands-on component. To prepare our students to deal with the increasing incidents of workplace violence, in 2016, LUSON implemented a certification that includes those exact elements. During their senior year, all nursing students earn a certification in Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NVCI) through the Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI). The CPI has 30,000 certified instructors, and these instructors certify employees in 17,000 organizations worldwide (CPI, n.d.). Many of our nursing graduates are working at hospitals that require their employees to have CPI training. During their senior year, students participate in a six-hour certification course in which they receive instruction on the
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CPI’s Crisis Development Model, which equips participants to recognize signs and symptoms of rising anxiety and emotional escalation. The CPI identifies the first three levels of escalation as anxiety, defensiveness, and risk behaviors. After a thorough discussion of what these might look like in a variety of clinical situations, students learn evidence-based interventions that correspond to these emotional levels. The certification day includes lectures, discussion, and role-playing. The class also teaches practical self-defense techniques through basic disengagement skills. These skills include strategies to get out of situations where a patient may try to grab, pull hair, bite, or choke. Students are taught how to best remove themselves from harm’s way in a manner that protects their patients. Based on research and feedback, this certification appears to be a great addition to our students’ portfolio of academic preparation, but the strongest endorsements for CPI have come from our graduates who entered their careers with this training. We have had several students contact LUSON to let us know how impressed their employers were that their education included instruction on keeping themselves and their patients safe. The positive feedback also came from students who were happy that when their certification year was complete, they were only required to do the recertification class rather than the full certification that all of their peers were required to complete. I asked for feedback from recent graduates regarding their thoughts about CPI and received numerous positive comments.
Sarah Tucker wrote, “In a culture where violence toward healthcare workers is so under-reported and tolerated, it is helpful to know nonviolent ways to escape and protect yourself. My first year as a nurse, I found myself in a situation where a patient had grabbed me by the hair, and I was able to release myself without harming her before security and the code atlas team was even able to get to the room. I think this training is a valuable asset that every healthcare worker should experience.”
Because he is one of the few male nurses in his unit, Justin Bredbenner stated that he is often assigned more difficult or dangerous patients. “It feels good knowing that I have a toolkit of safe and effective maneuvers and techniques that I can employ. … Because of this [CPI], my body language is confident and non-defensive and enables me to use verbal de-escalation on many aggressive patients.”
Lexie Wojtcuk stated, “CPI saved me twice early in my career as a nurse, once with a delirious patient and once with a violent patient. The delirious patient had managed to get a hold of my arm, but I was able to break his grip enough to get loose and not get injured because of CPI. … CPI has proven invaluable and saved me a few trips to the ER, so thank you!”
Crisis Prevention Institute (n.d.) Be a Part of Something Big. Retrieved from https://www.crisisprevention.com/About-Us
Sarah Bajramoski wrote, “While I have never had to use the physical extrication techniques taught in CPI, I use the fundamentals every shift.”
World Health Care Organization (2019). Violence Against Healthcare Workers. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/violence/workplace/en/
Nursing is a phenomenal career choice with numerous opportunities to impact the lives of our patients in profound ways. The value of skills that protect both nurses and aggressive patients is priceless. CPI skills are yet another way to help LUSON students feel like they are prepared to handle anything.
U.S. Department of Labor & Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2016). Guidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence for Healthcare and Social Service Workers. (No. OSHA 3148-06R 2016). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Labor & Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
RESEARCH
Psi Delta Moving Forward C I N DY G O O D R I C H A N D TO N I A K E N N E DY
We are excited to write an update of the Psi Delta chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International. The work for Fall 2019 centered on board members’ involvement with onboarding new members, offering education programs at membership meetings, and developing a 3-5 year strategic plan. We were privileged to attend the 45th Biennial Convention in Washington, D.C., as delegates in November 2019. It was edifying to network with colleagues from all areas of nursing around the globe. The opportunity to collaborate with Region 13 chapters from North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia helped us realize the need for extending beyond our own chapter work. The newly elected regional coordinator, Tamatha Arms, promises to seek more intentional involvement with the 34 chapters within Region 13. The Region 13 meeting will be held April 16-17, 2020, in Carolina Beach, N.C. More information will be available as details are established by the Region 13 leadership.
move forward with chapter development and engagement. This platform aligns well with Liberty University School of Nursing’s worldview. Additional information on the call to action is located on the Sigma website at SigmaNursing.org.
At the international level, the presidential transition occurred during the Biennial Convention when Dr. Richard Ricciardi posed a call to action for Sigma members to infuse joy as his presidential platform for 2019-21. The ABC’s of infuse joy consist of awareness, balance/purpose, and co-creation. The infuse joy elements intertwine with the concept of connecting and empowering nurse leaders to transform healthcare. Psi Delta will embrace President Ricciardi’s call to action as we
Currently, there are 175 active members of Psi Delta. Member engagement is imperative for chapter vitality. Please become involved by participating in chapter meetings and consider running for an office. Information on chapter meetings and opportunities for serving will be forthcoming. Please contact the current president at cgoodrich@liberty.edu for more details. Mark your calendar for the new member induction on May 8, 2020, during graduation weekend activities.
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FUTURE
Nursing Career Fairs H E AT H E R H U M P H R E Y S
LUSON faculty and staff are dedicated to investing in the lives of students by supporting personal and spiritual growth, academic and clinical excellence, and successful transition to the nursing workforce. Students are empowered to impact others through a ministry of caring as they pursue meaningful employment and service/mission activities. Each semester, LUSON collaborates with Liberty University Career Services to host a Nursing Career Fair, during which nursing recruiters visit the campus. A variety of healthcare organizations, including hospitals and mental health, mission-focused, and long-term care facilities, are represented at each fair.
In the Fall 2019 semester, over 180 students attended the Nursing Career Fair. Duke University Health System, Lancaster General (Penn Medicine), Atrium Health, Centra, and the University of Virginia Health System were among the 25 organizations represented. Recruiters commented that LUSON students came to the Career Fair “well prepared, with good résumés, and great questions!” University students and alumni are welcome to attend all Career Services events.
FUTURE
Alumni Updates Demetria Bates, (2018) gave a podium presentation at the National PACE Association conference in New Orleans in Oct. 2019, Quality Initiative Focusing on Reducing Burns. Speakers: Demetria S. Bates, DNP, FNP-BC, Family Nurse Practitioner, Emmitt Clinic, Jackson River Nephrology, Covington, VA, and Kimberly S. Woodley, BS, ASQ-CQE, Quality Manager, Centra PACE, Lynchburg, VA. Kristen Baber Hardison (2015) received the 2019 Brody Award for Most Outstanding Nurse of the Year from the Vidant Health Foundation. Krista Williams (2017) passed her CCRN exam in Nov. 2019. Rachel Morris Tillas (2017) has begun DNP studies at LU, Aug. 2019.
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Claire Thompson (2017) is working at Duke University Hospital in the ED. Jane Martin (2018) is working at Duke Durham in the ED. Emily Richards (2003) is working as a CRNA. Tilahun Goshu AGACNP, DNP (BSN Dec. 2012) is working as an acute care nurse practitioner at Virginia Commonwealth University (trauma and gerontology). L. Harold Barnwell DNAP, CRNA (BSN 2010) is serving as a faculty member at VCU (Nurse Anesthesia). Lauren Bunnell Collins (BSN 2018) is working in the Surgical Trauma ICU at Lynchburg General Hospital.
EXCELLENCE/RESEARCH
Convo Select Fall 2019 SHANNA AKERS On a quiet stage stood six individuals. The audience looked on with curiosity. Who were these people? All but one were dressed in clothing reminiscent of the late 19th century, and the other in the LUSON student nurse uniform of today. It was a diverse group of people — what could they have in common with the 1,100+ students and faculty sitting in the audience? Then Florence Nightingale began to speak. For the next 40 minutes, students learned about the history of some nursing profession giants. Florence Nightingale, the Lady with the Lamp, showed how ministering to and caring for patients is the highest of callings. Linda Richards, who trained under Nightingale and was one of the first trained nurses in the U.S., taught the importance of a strong education in both the art and science of nursing. Mary Eliza Mahoney, the first trained African American Nurse in the U.S., displayed the importance of the hard work needed to break the glass ceiling. Edward Lyon, the first male nurse in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps, discussed the importance of continuing the tradition of pride in our calling. These six characters from history came alive thanks to help from the Liberty University School of Communication and the Arts (SCA). In Spring 2019, I met with Dean Scott Hayes from the SCA with an idea to bring the history of nursing alive for students, faculty, and alumni. Dean Hayes wrote the script and selected the actors to portray each historical nursing character. Each character was researched by the SCA students with support from Dean Hayes and me. And an amazing job they did!
The character’s portrayed included: Florence Nightingale: Kylie Sanborn Linda Richards: Morgan McKay Mary Eliza Mahoney: Maia Anderson Irena Sendler: Gabrielle Crandall Edward Lyon: Jeremy Bossom Current Nursing Student: Abby Gawinski (current LUSON student) Following the presentation, students were challenged to be the “Just One” person that makes a difference in the lives of others. Similar to the giants of nursing portrayed, students and alumni were encouraged to think outside the box, challenge the norm, break glass ceilings, and impact the world for God’s glory. Students from all programs and alumni from around the nation were able to attend in person or watch the livecast and post video on social media. Here is what a few had to say: “What an incredible event! I want to thank you and the staff at Liberty University for all you do to educate and inspire nurses on what is truly important in life, caring for the body and soul of every human being. I am so proud to be a member of the Liberty University family.” Patricia, online MSN student “After learning of Irena and all she did for those who needed someone most, I feel inspired to follow in her footsteps and do the same. To just jump right into the water and help.” Olivia, residential BSN student Thank you to Dean Hayes and our colleagues in SCA! If you would like to watch the Nursing Convo Select or any other Convocation, please visit Liberty.edu/NursingConvo.
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LUSON ADVISORY BOARD ROSTER 2019-2020 Shanna Akers, EdD, MSN/MBA-HC, RN, CNE Dean, LUSON
Vickie McLean, DNP, RN, CCRN, ACNS-BC CNS, Lynchburg General Hospital
Diane Bridge, EdD, MSN, RN Administrative Dean, Online Nursing Education
Shannon Miles, BSN, RN Coordinator of Community Outreach and Perinatal Navigation, Centra Health
Lindsey Cardwell, MSN, RN-BC Director of Professional Development Reba Childress, EdD, MS, RN, FNP-C, CNE VASSA President & Conference Administrator Kristen Crouse, BSN, RN-BC Nursing Onboarding Manager Joan Deal CNO, Vice President, Acute Care Nursing, Centra Health Danielle Englund American Red Cross Misty Flinchum, BS, RRT Director, Center for Simulation, Research & Patient Safety, Carilion Clinic Hospital and Health Care Sharon Kopis, EdD, MS, RN, FNP-C, CNE Chair, Doctoral Studies, LUSON Andrea Mazzoccoli, PhD, RN, FAAN Senior Vice President/Chief Nurse Executive, Bon Secours Health System
Kathryn Miller, DNP, RN, CNE, CHSE Executive Director of Clinical Affairs, LUSON Tara Miller Director of Operations, LUSON Keith Paulus, MSN, RN LUSON Instructor and Instructional Mentor MSN Program Alumni Brandi Rawlins, MSN, RN, CMSRN LUSON Instructor | BSN Program Alumni Meg Scheaffel, BSN, MBA-MHA, RN CNO, Vice President, Carilion Clinic Hospital and Health Care Tracey Turner, EdD, MSN, RNC-OB Chair, BSN Program, LUSON Georgiann Watts, RN CNO, Vice President, Bedford Memorial Hospital
STUDENT ADVISORY BOARDS
Alondra Ramirez, Senior, Dec. Paige Wolford, Senior, Dec. Joelle Schreiber, Senior, Dec. Heather Kubel, Senior, Dec. Sarah Mann, Junior Taylor Rose, Senior, May Madison Bowe, Junior Faith Montgomery, Senior, May Hee Seung “Will” Lee, Junior Lauren Bishop, Sophomore Makayla Reynolds, Junior Mary Adonteng, Junior Ronald “Ronnie” Friedman, Junior G R A D U AT E S T U D E N T S ADVISORY BOARD
Nina Killian, MSN Summer Hepler, MSN Anika Holmes, RN-BSN-MSN Patricia Day, RN-BSN-MSN Stephen Wright, Post-BSN to DNP/FNP Joanna Asselin, Post-BSN to DNP/FNP Samantha Wilkins-Copeland, Post-BSN to DNP/FNP Lisa Floyd, Post-MSN to DNP Meredith Parnel, Post-BSN to DNP/FNP
L U S O N F A C U LT Y Shanna Akers, EdD, MSN/MBA-HC, RN, CNE Dean, School of Nursing
Rachel Joseph, PhD, CCRN Associate Professor
Tamra Rasberry, PhD, RN Associate Professor
Diane Bridge, EdD, MSN, RN Administrative Dean, Online Nursing Education
Bo Kail, MSN, RN Assistant Professor
Katherine Rivera, DNP, RN Associate Professor
Mary Lynn Clarke, EdD, MSN, RN, CCRN Associate Professor
Tonia Kennedy, EdD, MSN, CCRN-K Associate Professor
Deidra Simpson, Pharm.D Associate Professor
Lori Dominie, MSN, RN Assistant Professor
Sharon Kopis, EdD, RN, FNP-C, CNE Chair, DNP Program
Stacy Taylor, MSN, RN Assistant Professor
Cindy Drohn, MSN, RN Assistant Professor
Debra Maddox, DNP, RN Associate Professor
Ken Thompson, Pharm.D, RPh Associate Professor
Cindy Goodrich, EdD, CNE Professor
Sydney McCraw, MSN, RN Instructor
Dena Todd, MSN, RN Assistant Professor
Linda Gregory, MSN, RN Associate Professor
Kathryn Miller, DNP, RN, CNE, CHSE Executive Director of Clinical Affairs, Associate Professor
Sandra Tordoff, MSN, CCRN Assistant Professor
Emilee Harker, MSN, RN Associate Professor
Vickie Moore, DNP, RN, FNP-C Associate Professor
Tracey Turner, EdD, MSN, RNC-OB Chair, Residential BSN Program
Carol Harvey, MSN, RN Assistant Professor
Dorothy Murphy, DNP, RN, FNP-C Family Nurse Practitioner Program Director, Professor
Tiffany Wells, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, CHSE Instructor
Jerry Harvey, EdD, RN Associate Professor
Kristen Oakley, MSN, RN-BC, CMSRN Instructor
Elizabeth Whorley, RN-BSN, MSN, PhD Chair
Mary Highton, DNP, APRN, NNP-BC Associate Professor
Folashade Odedina, DNP-RN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC Psych-Mental Health NP Program Director, Associate Professor
Dana Woody, DNP, RN Associate Professor
Aimee Houghton, MSN, RN Instructor Heather Humphreys, DNP, CNE Associate Professor
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Ruth Patterson, MSN, RN, CPNP Adjunct Professor
STUDENT RECOGNITION
SEPTEMBER 2019
NOVEMBER 2019
Anna Dodson & Savannah Parker Seniors Foundation Stone — Compassion
Morgan Shamblin Senior Foundation Stone — Excellence
On the day of the first junior level exam of the semester, Anna and Savannah presented approximately 300 handwritten cards for each junior to read prior to the first round of testing. The juniors were encouraged and blessed!
Morgan identified that her patient was allergic to statin medications. The patient was ordered Lipitor (a statin) which was overlooked by her physician, pharmacist, and nurse. Because she caught the allergy and discussed with her patient, she prevented an anaphylactic reaction.
OCTOBER 2019
Kammi Kurtz Junior Foundation Stone — Compassion
Kaleigh Mister Senior Foundation Stone — Excellence Kaleigh connected with her patient so deeply during her mental health clinical that he told her he had a razor blade in his shoe. She was able to safely remove the blade from the patient’s room, helping provide a safe and trusting environment for the patient.
Kammi worked in the LUSON downtown Hands and Feet Clinic as part of her community clinical. She engaged with fellow athletes to donate to the clinic, and as a result, the athletic department has come alongside the clinic as a partner and will be donating shoes and blessing bag items, impacting hundreds of individuals.
Noah Sydnor Junior Foundation Stone — Excellence Noah noticed subtle changes in his patient that his preceptor had missed. The patient was having a stroke, and because of Noah’s intervention, the patient was transferred to ICU much more quickly than if he had not had Noah as his nursing student.
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